Web-holder mechanism



2' Sheets-Sheet 1 men???- J/l M M. c. MILLER WEB HOLDER MECHANISM Flled Aug 17, 1918 Feb. 19, 1924.

-Feb.. 19, 1924; 1,483,905 M. C. MI LLER WEB HOLDER MECHANI SM Filed Aug. 17, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 19, 1924. i g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mAx'c. MILLER, or CUMBERLAND HILL, nnonn ISLAND, ASSIGNOR 'ro JENCKES KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, or rAw'rUcKE'r, maroon ISLAND, A conro or anonn ISLAND.

WEB-HOLDER MECHANISM.

Application 'flled August 17, 1918. Serial No. 250,362.

To all whom it may concern: The invention will be readily understood Be it known that I, MAX C. MILLER, a subfrom an inspection of the accompanying ject of the Emperor of Germany, residing drawings and the following detailed del at Cumberland Hill, in the county of Prov1- scriptlon of the construction illustrated I dence and State of Rhode Island, have intherein.

vented certain new and useful Improve- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view 60 'ments in Web-Holder Mechanisms; and I do showing so much of the knitting head of hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, the circular knitting machine as is necessary clear, and exact description of the invention, to illustrate the application of the present such as will enable others skilled in the art invention thereto, the yarn guides being to which it appertains to make and use the omitted for clearness; Fig. 2 is an elevation 05 Same partly in section, on line 2-2, Fig. 1, show- This invention relates to web holder ing the upper part of the head; Fig. 3 is a mechanism for circular knitting machines sectional plan view showing the cams for such as are used for knitting seamless hoadvancing and retracting the Web holders;

siery, v Fig. is a sectional view on line fr-4:, Fig. One feature of the invention relates to 3; Flg. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5, means for varying the advance of the web Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showholders at the knitting point in accordance ing the means for securing the web holder .0 with the variations in the length of stitches dial to the needle cylinder.

drawn by the needles in knitting different In the drawings the invention is shown as 15 parts of the fabric, the advance of the web embodied in-a revolving needle cylinder maholders being increased when the stitch chine in which the length of the stitches in is lengthened and being decreased as the different parts of the stocking knit thereon 5,stitch is shortened. This obviates the. neis varied by vertical movement of the cylin cessity of using weights or fabric take-ups der as is common practice in this type of no whenknitting a continuous fabric in order machine as indicated by Patent No.1,244,991, to secure an evenly knit fabric and also en- October 30, 1917. The needle cylinder inables an evenly knit drop stocking (a. dicated at 2 carries the usual long and-short so stocking which is run off the needles after butt latch needles 4 which are operated durbeing knit) to be produced. The variation ing the rotary and reciprocatory movements in the advance movement of the web holders of the cylinder by knitting cams, pickers and is preferably secured by providing means elevating and depressing cams of any usual for moving the web holder cam or cams or suitable construction (not shown). The

i which advance the web holders radially inweb holders or sinkers 6 which co-operate ward or outward as the stitch is lengthened with the needles are mounted to slide radior shortened. ally in. the web holder dial 8. The dial is Another feature of the invention consists connected by arms 10 with its hub ring 12 in giving an increased inward movement to which fits the needle cylinder above a flange the web holders which cooperate with the 14. The hubv is split and is firmly clamped needles to which an extra or splicing yarn in position by' a clamping screw 16. This is fed in knitting a reinforced sole or high means for securing the web holder dial to spliced heel and thereby efiecting the reqthe needle cylinder is simple and efficient uisite loosening of the stitch in these parts and enables the dial to be conveniently and E of the fabric. This is preferably done by accurately-secured in place.

moving the web holding cam which is active The web holder cam ring 18 is mounted during rotary knitting radially inward at on the web holder dial in the usual manner the point-in each course where the reinforce and is retained thereon by the usual friction yarn is inserted and moving it radially outclips 19. The rin has a limited movement '1 ward to normal position at the point where with the dial durih reciprocatory knitting the am is withdrawn from the needles. which is determine bythe adjustable stop v i e invention also includes other features screws 20 engaging opposite sides of' the which will be hereinafter described and fixed arm 22 projecting from the latch ring specified in the claims. 24.. The web holders pass through slots 25 formed in a ring 26 secured in the upper end of the needle cylinder. They are held down by a hardened steel bearing ring 28 arranged Within the cam ring and held in engagement with the web holders by the heads of screws 30which may be adjusted to retainthe ringin engagement with the web holders and to take up wear. The ring is free to creep around as the web holders revolve,- thus avoiding the wearing of grooves therein, and maintaining the web holders in uniform relation to the needle.

The web holders are grooved or cut away to provide shoulders 32 which are engaged by the cams for advancing the web holders at the knitting point, and to provide shoulders 34 which are engaged by the cams for withdrawing the web holders before they reach the knitting point. In the construction shown the web holders are advanced by one or the other of two cams 36, 38, pivoted to the under side of the ring l8iby pivot screws 40, 42, so that they may be moved radially to vary the advance movement of the web holders. The inward positions of the cams are controlled by two levers 44, 46 pivoted on the upper side of the cam ring and connected with the cams by pins 48 secured in the cams and passing upward through radial slots in the ring and circumferential slots in the levers. Springs 50 tend to force the controlling levers and connected cams outward, their outward movement being limited by the engagement of the ends of the web holders with the flange. 51 at the outer edge of the cam ring. The free ends of the controlling levers are arranged to underlie stationary cams 52,54 which are adjustably pivoted on the latch ring and may be secured in adjusted position by the screws 56. The stationary cams are so arranged that when the needle cylinder is moved upward to lengthen the stitch the end of the controller lever corresponding to the active web holder cam will engage the stationary cam and be forced inward thereby a distance varying with the upward movement of the needle cylinder. The active cam will therefore be moved radially inward to increase the advance movement of the web holders so that they will properly cooperate with the needles in casting off and holding the lengthened. loops or stitches drawn by the needles. When M the web holder cam ring is shifted with relation to the cam cylinder and latch ring during reciprocating knitting the controller lever for the inactive web holder cam is freed from its stationary controlling cam vso that this cam may move outward slightly to a position where it will not act to force the web holders inward as they pass the point of the cam. This slight outward movement of the inactive cam thus elimi-' nates the strain on the fabric due to the memos usual idle I inward movement of the web holders at this point. The usual inward movement of the web holders at this point i strains the fabric against the needles, and in the case of the instep needles, which are idle during reciprocatory knitting on the inder, which repeated straining of the loops is liable to cut or break the yarn. The outward movement of the idle cam reduces this strain one-half, and correspondingly reduces the danger of injury to the fabric. Another advantage of this feature is that it avoids the vibration of the idle needles as they approach the knitting point which is liable to cause the latches to close as they pass the opening in the throat plate through which the yarns are fed unless special provision is made for preventing this movement, such as a gate or barrier across the opening in the throat plate.

Co-operating with the web holder cams is a centreor withdrawing cam 58 so mounted that it shifts from one web holder cam to the other. As shown, this cam is formed in the centre of a segmental slide 60 arranged within the grooves in the web holders and provided on its under side with a rib 62, the inner edge of which engages the outer edge of a rib 64 formed on the upper surface of the web holder dial. order that that side of the cam which draws the web holders outward may have a more V gradual rise than would be required if this side of the cam were properly shaped to co-operate with one of the web holder cams in controlling the inward movement of the web holders produced thereby, a flopper cam 66 may be pivoted at the centre of the cam 58, as'shown. The position of the cam 58 with relation to each of the web holder cams 36 and 38 is determined by a stop pin 68 projecting upward from the cam slide and arranged to engage the ends of the controller levers 44 and 46. As shown, this pin also forms a pivot pin for the flopper cam 66. During rotary knit ting, for instance, theQgin engages the end of the controller lever 44, as indicated in the drawings, and the cam 58 and its auxiliary cam 66 are retained in proper position to withdraw the web holders as they approach the knitting point and to com trol the inward movement of the web holders under the influence of the web holder cam 36 so that the holders shall not be driven violently inward as they pass the point of the cam. When the needle cylinder and web holding dial are reversed, the cam slide 60' will be moved contraclockwise by its frictional engagement with the web holder dial and web holders until the pin 68 brings up against the end of the lever 46 which locates the cam 58 in holder cam 38.

When the web holder cam with which the centre cam is co-operating is moved radially, the position of the centre cam should be correspondingly changed in orderthat 46 the position to the centre cam may properly control the inward movement of the web holders under the influence of the web holder cam. This is provided for by utilizin the ends of the controller levers 44 an 46 as stops to position the centre cam and by providing the ends of the levers at the points where they are engaged by the pin with cam surfaces shaped to vary the position of the centre cam in accordance with the position of the corresponding web'holder cam.

In order to slightly loosen the stitch about approximately one-half the needle cylinder during the knitting 01 each course, as, instance, when a splicing or reinforce yarn is fed to these needles, means is provided for advancing the web holde cam 36 which is active during rotary keni'ing during a part of each rotation of th In the construction shown a cam formed. on the end of a lever 72 and arranged to engage a pin 7 4 on the controller lever .44. The lever is pivotally supported upon a bracket secured to the web holder cam rin and is rovided with a pin 76 adapted to %m broug t into the path of two cams 7 8 and 80- adjustably secured to the under side of the web holder dial. The cam lever is preferably made in two parts, having a common pivot and secured together by a clamping screw 82. By gelative adjustment of the parts of the lever the pin .76 may be brought into proper relation to the came 78 and 80. The lever is held-in which it is moved by its controlling mechanism or by the cams 78 and 8G by a s ring latch 84 adapted to engage a series 0 notches formed in a projecting arm of the lever. .The lever may be moved into or out of activeposition by a rod 86.

eedle cylinder.

the end of which engages'an opening 88 formed in the lever. In the drawings the lever is shown in its inactive osition. en the stitch is to be loosene during knitting on the needles around one-half of the nee le cylinder the lever is swung about I its ivot to bring the pin 76 into the path of t e cam 80. The cam 70 is so sha ed that this movement does not have any e eat on the position of the web holder cam.

7 When the cam 80 engages the pin 76 the i it was movedby cam leveris given a further movement and the cam 70 s11 htly advances the web holder cam. The we holder cam remains in advanced position during a part of therevolution of the needle cylinder and until the cain 7 8 engages the pin 76 and returns the .cam lever 70'to the'position from which; the cam 80; This causes for this means comprises a limited movement with a return of the web holder cam to its normal position where it remains until the cam 80 again engages the pin 76 and causes an inwardmovement of the web holder cam. Thus the web holder cam is advanced from its normal osition during each rotation of the idle cylinder at a point determined by the adjustment of the cam 80 and is returned to its normal position after the needle cylinder has made a partial revolution and at a point determined by the adjustment of the cam 78. This operation continues until the cam lever 7 2 is returned to active position by movement of the rod 86. The rod 86 may be operated manually or automatically by any wel-l-known or suitable mechanism.

lVhile it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of arts shown and described in embodying the nvention is a rotary needle cylinder machine -for knitting seamless hosiery, it will be understood that this construction is not essential to the broader features of the invention but may be varied or modified as found desirable or best suited to the construction or mode of operation of the machine in which it is to be embodied. It will also be understood that the invention is not confined in this application to a rotary needle cylinder machine but may be embodied in machines in which the cam cylinder is rotated or in other types of machines.

I claim '1. A knitting machine having, in combination,,a needle cylinder, a web holder dial secured thereto,'web holders in the dial, 7 a web holder .cam ring having a limited movement with relation to the knitting cams during reciprocatory knitting, two web holder advancing camson the cam ring, and means rendered active by said relative movement to alternately move the web hold er advancing cams forward.

2. A knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, a web holder dial secured thereto, web holders in the dial, a web holder cam ring having the dial in either direction'during reciprocatory knitting, two web holder advancing cams on the ring for advancing the web holders, and means rendered active by the movement of the cam ring with the dial for moving the web holder cams forward and back.

3. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a vertically movable needle cylinder, web holders carried, thereby, web holder card or cams for advancing the web holders and means rendered active by the vertica movement of the cylinder for mov- 'ing the cam or cams inward upon u ward bination, a vertically movable needle cylinder, a web holder dial, radially movable web holders in the dial, a web holdercam ring, radially movable web holder cams on the ring, and stationary cams arranged to vary the radial position of the active web holder cam in accordance with the vertical position of the needle cylinder.

5. A knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary needle. cylinder, a web holder dial secured thereto, web holders in the dial, a web holder cam ring having limited movement in either direction with the dial during reciprocatory knitting, two web holder cams on the ring for advancing the Web holders, and stationary cams rendered,- active by the movements of the cam ring with the dial to alternately move the web'holder cams inward.

6. A knitting machine having, in combination, web holders, two Web holder advancing cams movable to vary the forward movement of the web holders a center withdrawing cam cooperating with the web holder cams, means for varying the positions of the web holder advancing cams to vary the advance of the web holders thereby, and for correspondingly varying the position of the center cam.

7. A knitting machine having, in combination, web holders, a web holder advancing cam movable to vary the forward movement of the web holders, a -center withdraw ing cam cooperating therewith, and means for varying the active position of the web holder cam to vary the advance of the web holders thereby" and for correspondingly varying the position of the center cam to maintain it in operative relation to the web holder advancing cam.

8. A knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, latchneedles mounted therein, radially movable web holders, two independently movable web holder advancing cams alternately active to positively advance the web holders at the knitting points during reciprocatory knitting, means fer withdrawing the web holders as they approach the active advancing cam, and means for retracting the idle cam to avoid pressing the fabric against the needles approaching the knitting point.

9. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle cylinder, radially movable web holders, a web holder cam for advancing the web holders, means for moving the cam inward at a definite pointin eachcourse, and subsequently returning it'to its outer position at a definite point in the same course. h

10. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle cylinder, radially movable web holders, a radially movable web holder cam for advancing the web holders, a nor-- mallyinactive controller cam, cams rotating with the needle cylinder for actuating the controller cam to advance and retract the web holder cam at different points in each rotation of the needle cylinder, and means for rendering such latter cams active or in= active on the controller cam.

11. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a. rotary needle cylinder, a web holder dial secured thereto, web holders in the dial, a web holder cam ring havin limited movement with the dial, two we holder cams on the cam ring, a centre cam slide engaging the dial and having limited movement therewithyand stops for limiting the movement of the cam slide to position the centre cam in operative relation to one or the other of the web holder cams.

12. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle cylinder, web holders, two web holder cams alternately active during the reciprocatory knitting to advance the web holders, and a co-operating centre withdrawing cam mounted to shift circumferentially from one web holder cam to the other.

13. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle cylinder, radially movable web holders, two web holder cams alternately active during the reciprocatory knitting to advance the web holders, a co-operating centre withdrawing cam, a segmental slide carrying the centre cam and movable with relation to the web holder cams, and stops for determining the movement of the slide to position the centre cam in co-operative relation to one or the other of the web holding cams. Y

14. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needlecylinder, radially movable web holders, a web holder cam ringhaving a limited movement with relation to the radially movable retracting the inactive cam as the direction of the knitting is changed.

-l5.A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle cylinder, a web holder dial, radially sliding web holders in the dial, a web holder cam r1ng, a bearing ring overlying the web holders, and adjustable retaining means for holding the ring in engagement with the web holders.

16. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a needle cylinder, a web holder dial, radially sliding web holders in the dial, a web holder cam r1ng, and a floating bearing ring overlying the web holders between the needle cylinder and the cams on the cam IlIl 1%. A knitting machine having, in combination, web holders, a web holder cam for advancing the web holders, means for varynately acting cams ing the radial positionbf the web holder cam as the length of stitch is varied, and means for movingl the cam inward at a definite point in eac course and subsequently returning it to its outer position at a definite point in the same course.

18. A knittin machine having, in combination, a nee 1e cylinder, a web holder dial secured thereto, web holders in the dial, a web holder cam ring having a limited movement with relation to the knitting cains during reciprocatory knitting, two alterfor advancing the web holders at the knitting points during reciprocatory knitting, means for withdrawing the web holders as the approach the active cam, and means ren ered active by said relative movement to slightly withdraw the inactive cam.

19. A knitting machine having, in combination, a needle cylinder, latch needles mounted therein, radially movable web position of the holders, two web holder advanein cams alternately active to advance the we holders at the knitting point durin reciprocatory knitting, means for with rawing the web holders as they approach the active advancing cams, and means for alternately moving the cams in opposite directions to project the cam which is to be tract the cam which is to become inactive.

20. A knittin machine having, in combination, a nee 1e cylinder, radially movable web holders, a web holder cam ring having a knittin cams during reci rocato knittin two in ependently mova le web older a vancing cams and cooperatin means on the cam rings for forming a sing e wave in the web holders, and means for varying the active cam to vary the adholders in accordance with vance of the web variations in the length of the stitch.

, MAX 0. MILLER.

active and relimited movement'with relation to a 

